Voter turnout stands at 10.35% across 96 Lok Sabha seats in 10 states and Union Territories during the ongoing 4th phase of the Lok Sabha elections. Simultaneous polling is also underway for all 175 Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh and 28 Assembly seats in Odisha. High-profile candidates like Samajwadi Party’s Akhilesh Yadav, Trinamool Congress’ Mahua Moitra, and Congress’ Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury are among those contesting, with a particular focus on West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The Srinagar seat’s election marks a significant event in Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370.
Highlights
Andhra Pradesh & Odisha: Voter turnout stands at 9.05% for Lok Sabha polls and 9.21% for Assembly polls in Andhra Pradesh. In Odisha, an average of 14.97% voter turnout was recorded till 9 am.
Jharkhand: Nearly 12% voter turnout was recorded in four Lok Sabha seats.
West Bengal: Peaceful polling is reported in 8 Lok Sabha seats, with a 15.24% turnout by 9 am. Both Trinamool Congress and BJP lodged complaints, including EVM malfunctions and voter intimidation.
Telangana: The voter turnout was 9.51% by 9 am for 17 Lok Sabha seats.
Incidents Reported: In Telangana, the Telugu Desam Party alleged attacks on polling booth agents by workers of the ruling YSRCP party in Macherla town. In West Bengal, clashes between BJP and Trinamool Congress workers were reported in Durgapur.
Srinagar Lok Sabha Seat: Voter turnout stood at 5.07% by 9 am, marking the first major election in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370. Former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah raised concerns about the confinement of party workers.
Uttar Pradesh: The voter turnout for 13 Lok Sabha seats stood at 11.67% by mid-morning.
National Outlook: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed confidence in the Opposition INDIA bloc’s victory, while Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav predicted a significant win for BJP.
Appeals from Leaders: Akhilesh Yadav urged voters to ‘save the Constitution,’ while Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called this phase crucial for turning the tide in favor of justice.
The ongoing 4th phase of the Lok Sabha elections is witnessing robust participation across various states, with significant implications for the political landscape of the country.
